Vodafone Network Coverage Increased
Vodafone network coverage has been greatly increased in Australia as a result of the network sharing agreement with Optus officially going live today 30th of January 2025.
This is great news for Cmobile C Red plan customers who will see their mobile coverage increased from 95.4% of the Australian population to 98.4%. To put this in perspective, this increases the coverage footprint from around 400,000 to 1,000,000 square kilometres – more than double the coverage!
Cmobile C Red plan customers now have access to around 2,500 additional mobile tower sites in regional and rural Australia. Here are some locations in New South Wales that now benefit from this coverage expansion:
- Port Macquarie
- Forster
- Batemans Bay
- Orange
- Mudgee
There are many more locations that benefit from the improved coverage. To check the improved coverage, you can search in our Coverage Maps and enter an address or town.
Cmobile C Red mobile customers don’t have to do anything to enjoy the extra coverage as it will automatically be available.
Cmobile C Red plans are now even better value with this increased coverage. You can get a SIM only mobile plan from just $7.90 per month with Unlimited National Calls and Messaging. Here are some of the plans available. Check the Cmobile website for more plans:
Background
In April 2024, TPG Telecom (the parent company of Vodafone Australia) and Optus announced a $1.6 billion network-sharing agreement aimed at enhancing mobile coverage, particularly in regional and rural areas of Australia. This 11-year deal allows TPG, Vodafone brands such as iinet and Vodafone resellers such as Cmobile to access over 2,500 Optus mobile sites in regional Australia, effectively expanding Vodafone’s coverage from approximately 400,000 square kilometers to around one million square kilometers, reaching 98.4% of the Australian population.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approved this agreement in September 2024, recognising its potential to boost competition and improve services in regional markets.
Under the terms of the multi-year deal, TPG Telecom and Optus will share network infrastructure, including mobile towers and related equipment. This approach will enable both companies to broaden their reach without the substantial costs associated with deploying individual towers and facilities, particularly in sparsely populated regions where network expansion has been financially challenging.
The network build has now been completed as at 30 January 2025 with existing Vodafone network users now experiencing the improved coverage.
For residents of Pooncarie, New South Wales, this agreement is significant. The expanded network aims to provide more reliable connectivity in regional and rural Australia, including areas that previously experienced limited or no coverage. This means that Pooncarie and similar communities can look forward to improved mobile services and greater choice among providers.
Overall, the TPG-Optus network-sharing agreement will enhance mobile coverage and competition across Australia, benefiting both regional and metropolitan consumers.
Benefit to Cmobile C Red plan customers
Cmobile’s C Red plans operate on the Vodafone network, meaning customers currently rely on Vodafone’s existing infrastructure for coverage. With the Optus-TPG (Vodafone) network-sharing agreement, C Red plan users will now experience several benefits:
1. Expanded Regional Coverage
- Vodafone’s coverage has increased significantly, especially in regional and rural areas where it has traditionally been weaker.
- C Red plan customers will now have access to Optus’s regional towers, improving service in previously low-signal areas.
2. Better Network Reliability & Performance
- Since Vodafone will be using more than 2,500 Optus mobile towers, congestion could be reduced, leading to faster data speeds and fewer dropped calls.
3. No Need to Switch Networks
- Customers on C Red plans will not need to change SIM cards or move to another provider to benefit from the expanded network.
4. Competitive Pricing with Improved Coverage
- One of the main reasons customers choose Cmobile’s C Red plans is affordability.
- With better coverage and reliability, customers get more value for money without having to pay premium prices for Telstra or Optus-branded plans.
5. Potential Future Features
- Depending on how Cmobile integrates the new coverage, they may introduce 5G access, improved VoLTE (Voice over LTE), or other network enhancements.
This deal is a big win for Cmobile customers, especially those in regional and rural areas who have struggled with Vodafone’s coverage in the past. If you live in one of these areas, you should see noticeable improvements in signal strength now the network sharing build has completed.